PCSK9 and HMGCR genetic variants are associated to risk of type 2 diabetes

PCSK9 and HMGCR genetic variants are associated to risk of type 2 diabetes

Background

Low LDL-c levels either due to genetic variants in the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) gene or to statin treatment, are associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) but also with modest hyperglycaemia, increased body weight and a modest increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM)1-3. To investigate whether low LDL-c due to low levels of PCSK9 also exert this effect, 2 mendelian studies have been performed in which genetic variants of PCSK9, but also of HMGCR, were related to the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular events.

This relates to a study of Ference et al and of Schmidt et al that very recently appeared. Ference used 112,772 participants of which 14,120 and 10,635 experienced a cardiovascular event or developed diabetes, respectively. In this study, genetic scores were generated for PCSK9 and HMGCR. Scores were dichotomized and used to divide participants into 2 groups of approximately equal sizes on the basis of whether the genetic score was above or below the median. The primary composite endpoint was first occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) or death from CHD and the primary safety outcome was diabetes.

In the study of Schmidt, 4 variants of PCSK9 (rs11591147, rs2479409, rs11206510 and rs11583680) were selected based on several criteria. Participating studies executed a common analysis script on their own data and submitted this to a central analysis centre. Subsequently, data were meta-analysed. The composite endpoint was prevalent or incident T2DM.

Main results

In the study of Ference and colleagues, 7 variants of PCSK9 and 6 variants of HMGCR were included.

Individuals in the group with higher PCSK9 genetic scores had lower mean LDL-c levels than those with lower PCSK9 scores (difference of -4.2 mg/dL/-0.11 mmol/L, P=5.6*10-16).

Participants in the group with higher PCSK9 scores had an 8.4% lower risk of primary endpoint, as well as lower risks of major coronary events, major vascular events, MI and death from CHD. They also had a 6.1% higher risk of diabetes.

Individuals in the group with higher HMGCR genetic scores had lower mean LDL-c levels than those with lower HMGCR scores (difference 3.2 mg/dL/0.08 mmol/L, P=2.9*10-15).

Participants in the group with higher HMGCR scores had and 6.6% lower risk of MI or death from CHD, which was consistent for all secondary endpoints. They also had a 5% higher risk of diabetes.

Conclusion

Both studies showed that genetic variants that mimic the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors had effects on lower LDL-c levels and the risk of cardiovascular events and the risk of diabetes. This was similar to variants that mimic the effect of statins when measured per unit change in the LDL-c level. Furthermore, it was shown that both variants together were independent and additive. These data suggest that treatment with a PCSK9 inhibitor, used either alone or in combination with a statin, should reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by approximately 20% per decrease of 1mmol/L in LDL-c but also may increase the risk of new-onset diabetes. However, the corresponding proportional reduction in cardiovascular risk was much greater than the increased risk of diabetes.